Components for enhancing or augmenting wearable accessories by adding electronics thereto

ABSTRACT

A system and device for adding electronics to materials of a wallet to form a smart wallet. A smart wallet stows and retrieves information stored or displayed on various transaction cards and other information typically carried within the wallet. Electronic and physical features of a smart wallet include devices and techniques for attaching electronics to accessories, and also for attaching accessories, to primary devices to form a smart wallet. The user can then interact with the smart wallet and its cards, information and accessories using an interface that governs that interaction while retaining the security of the information. Mechanical features include techniques for integrating electronics within materials to add electronic functionality to make any device a smart wallet. Several accessory styles and devices for attaching same to electronics are also disclosed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patentapplication filed on Sep. 2, 2014, assigned Application No. 62/044,496,and entitled Methods and Systems to Add Electronics to Materials to Forma Smart Wallet, the contents of which are incorporated herein in itsentirety.

FIELD

The present invention relates to the general field of electronicwallets, specifically techniques and components to add electronics tomaterial structures to form a smart wallet.

BACKGROUND

As electronic wallets become more prominent, electrical and mechanicaldesign is of heighted importance. The design affects not only theappearance of the wallet, but also its functionality. Features such ashow electronics are added to materials, how a user interface fits withother features of the wallet, and insertion/removal of batteries arejust a few design aspects of an electronic wallet that affects itsappearance and functionality.

Little innovation in this area has emerged within the field ofelectronic wallets. In particular, attachment methods to attachelectronics to materials that form an integrated smart wallet impact thefunctionality of the wallet and its usability. In the past, smartwallets have used clamshell designs, such as illustrated in US20090077675 A1. This published patent application describes a hard shellto integrate electronics, not how to integrate electronics to conform tomost widely accepted wallet materials such as leather and nylon. Otherprior art references such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,221,838 and US publishedpatent application 20020179704 focus on electronic aspects of thewallet.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to techniques to physically configureelectronic, digital and/or smart wallets (or a wearable accessory),heretofore called “smart wallets”, with specific features that enhanceappearance and functionality. Electrical features include methods andcomponents for a user to interact with the smart wallet via an interfacethat governs that interaction and features to secure information, asnon-limiting examples. Mechanical features include techniques forintegrating electronics components and devices (herein sometimesreferred to as “electronics”) within material structures, includingflexible structures in some embodiments, to add electronic functionalityto the structure to form a smart wallet.

Electronics (also referred to as electronics components) may include,but are not limited to combinations of any number of the followingcomponents heretofore singularly, collectively or in combination called“electronics,” as shown in FIG. 1: a microprocessor or amicrocontroller, a memory, crypto devices, anti-tamper devices, adisplay, a semi or fully transparent touch display, switches, proximitysensors, a microphone, amplifiers, a speaker, biometric sensors, opticalsensors, LEDs, wireless battery recharging devices, power harvestingcircuitry and various wireless interfaces including but not limited toBluetooth, BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy), RFID, WiFi, Edge, 3G, 4G, LTE,801.15.4 or virtually any wireless interface and protocol. Thosefamiliar with the art will recognize that these electronics andvariations thereof comprise electronics that can be added to materialstructures to form a smart wallet. For instance, non-limiting examplesinclude electronics that utilize displays, buttons, speakers and/or amicrophone as interfaces to a user, and/or combinations of each.Likewise, elements for holding removable batteries in place are alsooffered in the present invention as are features to facilitate userinteraction with the smart wallet and its components and devices.

Techniques for attaching accessories to electronics and for attachingaccessories to a smart wallet include but are not limited to adhesives,grooves and mating protrusions, slide-and-lock elements, single-lockelements, and clip elements. These techniques and components can be usedto form an accessorized electronic wallet or an accessorized smartwallet within a variety of forms such as but not limited to wallets,purses, luggage, bracelets, anklets, necklaces, wrist bands, belts, beltbuckles, wrings, mobile accessories and just about any mobile orwearable accessory that are commonly carried or worn by individualscollectively referred hereafter as “accessories”. A user may interchangevarious colors and styles of accessories to fit a particular applicationor venue and can create pockets in the smart wallet for carrying variousitems therein.

Those versed in the art recognize that numerous colors and styles ofwallet accessories may be attached to an electronics module to providedifferent appearances and functions. Several described embodimentsdemonstrate the wide versatility of accessories with integratedelectronics. Likewise, other embodiments demonstrate versatility ofaccessories that can hold other accessories such as but not limited to apowered-card (i.e., a card carrying operative electronics componentsthat require a power source) along with one or more extra pockets tohold other cards (referred to generally as transaction cards such ascredit cards, debit cards, identity cards, gift cards, coupons, cardscarrying financial or personal information, and the like), cash and/orother personal information. Non-limiting examples of a smart wallet andits accessories include but are not limited to single-pocket with nowindow, single-pocket with a clear window, top-fold, side-fold,side-back-fold and back-fold.

In some embodiments, an accessory is configured with mechanical featuresto align and hold a powered card in a specific position relative to theelectronics. The mechanical position of the accessory relative toelectronics is controlled such that various features might be supported,such as wake-up of the powered card, communications and recharging of abattery and/or super capacitor within a powered card, as non-limitingexamples. This technique of mechanically controlling the relationship ofelectronics between two devices within an accessory achieves a first“on-person rechargeable wearable device.” where electronics within anaccessory may work with electronics within a powered card and/or mobileor wearable device to charge a battery or capacitor within theelectronic card. Powered cards may include smart cards, identity cards,or any card with passive, semi-passive, fully powered or virtually anyelectronics components.

Each accessory conforms to mechanical design features that enableelectronics to be attached to materials (such as materials of a smartwallet) while also allowing electronics within a powered card (e.g., apowered transaction card) to be aligned and held in position relative toelectronics within a smart wallet. In one non-limiting embodiment, thealignment and material attachment is achieved via an “accessory mount”that governs how wallet accessories and powered cards integrate withelectronics.

The present invention identifies several techniques to attach materialto electronics, including but not limited to a hole and latch technique,glue and clamp techniques, stitch elements, bezel elements, and sonicwelding. Those in the field of art will recognize that materials forsuch smart wallet accessories may include leather, synthetic leather,and nylon as non-limiting examples.

In various embodiments, locking mechanisms retain currency folds andcardholders locked in a closed position. These include but are notlimited to one or more plastic, clips, magnets, hook and loop fasteners,and/or a zipper within or on the material of the currency andcardholder. In some embodiments, the electronics within the smart walletcan connect to docking stations and other peripherals via wired and/orwireless elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of non-limited examples of componentsthat can comprise electronics according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a non-limiting example of how a button cover fitsinto an electronics enclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates techniques to attach electronics directly to walletmaterial such as but not limited to fabric, nylon or leather.

FIG. 4 illustrates how electronic components, such as but not limited tobatteries, displays, microphones, speakers and buttons, may be housedseparately from other electronics, distributed throughout materials.

FIG. 5 illustrates techniques to house one or more batteries in the seamof a wallet and to form a hinge, in some embodiments.

FIG. 6 illustrates a switch or extractor for use in inserting andejecting batteries.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view that shows how batteries can fit into theedge of a printed circuit board (PCB) to save space, along with batteryholder elements.

FIG. 8 describes a long straight bracket conductive battery holder.

FIG. 9 is a view of a conductive battery holder consisting of a straightbracket with triangular bends formed therein.

FIG. 10 illustrates a conductive battery holder with a short singlestraight bracket that holds the coin battery in place.

FIG. 11 shows a view of a container or battery holder that holds a coinbattery.

FIG. 12 illustrates an exploded view of an electronics enclosure,accessory mount, optional bezel and material backing.

FIG. 13 illustrates how electronics such as but not limited to variouscharging coils, contacts, antenna, multipurpose inductive/magnetic/RFantenna and/or physical contacts within a separate accessory such as butnot limited to a powered card can be aligned to electronics within asmart wallet.

FIG. 14 describes an electronics enclosure with an accessory mount thatinterlocks with a bezel to trap flexible material to form an accessorywith a flap containing two pockets, in this non-limiting example.

FIG. 15 illustrates a technique to attach an accessory mount to attachedaccessories to electronics and/or electronic enclosures.

FIG. 16 illustrates a technique to interlock the outer enclosure to anaccessory using rails, grooves, protrusions and/or dimples.

FIG. 17 shows another embodiment that utilizes slide-and-lock elementswhereby dimples and recesses are used to interlock accessories toelectronics and/or electronic enclosures are not located on theprotrusions or rails, but rather on some other part of the body of theelectronics enclosure.

FIG. 18 illustrates two techniques of attaching the outer enclosure tothe accessories mount using clips or clasps that apply pressure to theelectronics enclosure as the accessory is locked or snapped into placearound the main electronics or electronic enclosure.

FIG. 19 illustrates clasps may be located at the corners of theaccessory, or the sides, or combinations of corners and/or sides aroundthe perimeter of the accessory mount.

FIG. 20 is a view of how the flexible material is embedded into theaccessories mount using pins, holes, and/or glue.

FIG. 21 illustrates components for attaching material to an accessoriesmount using a latching mechanism that contains one or more holes and oneor more pegs and/or hooks.

FIG. 22 shows a technique for attaching the outer covering to theaccessories mount by means of stitching.

FIG. 23 is a view of how material is attached to an accessory mountusing stitching which threads through holes in a tab located on theaccessory mount or laminated cover.

FIG. 24 illustrates how material can be attached to the accessory mountby means of a pin between the fold of the outer covering.

FIG. 25 is a view of how material can be folded over and slid into theaccessories mount, which holds it in place.

FIGS. 26 and 27 illustrate how a one or more materials, such as bezelsor covers, may be used to press material down into grooves of a secondmaterial fixture to trap the material using techniques such as but notlimited to sonic welding or lamination.

FIG. 28 describes glue reservoirs that can be strategically placed tocapture excess glue during the accessory manufacturing process.

FIG. 29 illustrates unique mechanical configurations to align smartwallet electronics with other devices such that a variety of inductive,magnetic and/or RF (Radio Frequency) communications can be achievedbetween the devices.

FIG. 30 illustrates a seamless single pocket accessory style comprisedin this example of a pocket cut into an outer material with an optionalliner that provides a backing for the pocket attached via glue,stitching, hook-and-loop® or any combination.

FIG. 31 illustrates another single pocket technique that consists of aclear window, but with outer material stitched to base material 300 toform a clear pocket to show cards such as an identity card or licensewithout opening the wallet.

FIG. 32 illustrates a top-fold accessory technique comprising of one ormore material pockets and/or ID pockets made of material as they areattached to an accessory mount that attaches to electronics orelectronic enclosures.

FIG. 33 illustrates a non-limiting example of a side-fold accessorycomprising of two card slots attached to a currency pocket.

FIG. 34 illustrates a back-fold style where material 300 with pockets inthe seam and/or outer and/or inner sides.

FIG. 35 illustrates a conventional wallet having a pocket forelectronics.

FIG. 36 illustrates smart wallet integrated with a cell phone.

FIG. 37 illustrates a sleeve with integrated electronics for use with amobile phone.

FIG. 38 illustrates a sleeve with integrated electronics that whenattached to a mobile device, forms a pocket large enough for a card tobe housed, inserted and removed.

FIG. 39 shows a non-limiting example of wearable electronics that couldbe charged via an on-person charging method, in this example chargingwithin a sleeve on a mobile device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before describing in detail the particular methods and apparatusesrelated to methods for adding electronics to materials to form smartwallets and other non-limiting objects made from materials, it should beobserved that the embodiments of the present invention reside primarilyin a novel and non-obvious combination of elements and method steps. Soas not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art, certain conventional elements andsteps have been presented with lesser detail, while the drawings and thespecification describe in greater detail other elements and stepspertinent to understanding the embodiments.

The presented embodiments are not intended to define limits as to thestructures, elements or methods of the inventions, but only to provideexemplary constructions. The embodiments are permissive rather thanmandatory and illustrative rather than exhaustive.

The present invention, in certain embodiments, teaches unique and nonobvious components and methods for inserting and extracting a batteryfrom an electronic wallet (also referred to as a smart wallet) and forattaching and removing accessories from a smart wallet to “accessorize”the wallet.

The present invention configures wallets with specific electrical andmechanical features that enhance appearance and functionality.Electrical features include methods and components for a user tointeract with the smart wallet via an interface that governs thatinteraction and features to secure information, as non-limitingexamples. Mechanical features include techniques for integratingelectronics components and devices (herein sometimes referred to as“electronics”) within material structures, including flexible structuresin some embodiments, to add electronic functionality to the structure toform a smart wallet.

Techniques for attaching accessories to electronics and for attachingaccessories to a smart wallet include but are not limited to adhesives,grooves and mating protrusions, slide-and-lock elements, single-lockelements, and clip elements. These techniques and components can be usedto form an accessorized electronic wallet or an accessorized smartwallet within a variety of forms such as but not limited to wallets,purses, luggage, bracelets, anklets, necklaces, wrist bands, belts, beltbuckles, wrings, mobile accessories and just about any mobile orwearable accessory that are commonly carried or worn by individualscollectively referred hereafter as “accessories”. A user may interchangevarious colors and styles of accessories to fit a particular applicationor venue and can create pockets in the smart wallet for carrying variousitems therein.

Electronics may include combinations of any number of the followingcomponents herein singularly, collectively or in combination called“electronics” 100 as shown in FIG. 1: microprocessor or microcontroller101, memory (flash 102, RAM 103, and/or FRAM 104), crypto devices 105,anti-tamper devices 106, location devices 107 such as but not limited toGPS 134, displays 108, semi or fully transparent touch displays 109,buttons 110, optical sensors 111 such as but not limited to infrared,photodiodes, and/or image sensors, LED 112, proximity sensors 113,biometric sensors 114 such as but not limited to finger, heartbeat,face, IRIS and voice sensors, switches 115, microphone 116, amplifier117, speaker 118, battery (or super capacitor) 119, wireless batteryrecharging circuitry 120, power harvesting sensors and circuitry 121 andvarious interfaces including but not limited to Bluetooth 122, BLE(Bluetooth Low Energy) 123, NFC (Near Field Communications) 124, RFID125, Wi-Fi 126, communications devices operating according to thespecification 801.15.4 127, Edge devices 128, 3G devices 129, 4G devices130, LTE devices 131, antennas 132, coils 133, or virtually any otherelectronic component. Other non-limiting examples include electronicsthat utilize displays 108, touch panels or touch screens 109, buttons110, speakers 118, microphones 116, image sensors 111 and other sensorsas interfaces to a user, and/or combinations of any electronics.

Those familiar with the art will recognize that variations of theseelectronics constitute electronics that can be added to materials toform a smart wallet. Additionally, these devices and the associatedcommunications interfaces and protocols may be used for communicatingbetween two electronics modules that are both carried within or housedwith a smart wallet.

FIG. 2 illustrates a non-limiting embodiment of how a button cover 201fits into an electronic enclosure 200 by means of one or more tabs 202that are received within compatible grooves 203 located on theenclosure. This technique enables a button cover 201 to slide within thegrooves of the outer enclosure 200 and engage a tactile switch withspring action located on a printed circuit board (PCB) positioned behindthe enclosure 200. This arrangement of components provides a tactilefeel to the user.

The button cover may have a logo on and/or within the button that isformed utilizing manufacturing methods including but not limited toembossing, in-mold labeling, and/or laser etching. The button cover 201may be used for a variety of features including turning smart walletelectronics on and/or off, setting one or more LEDs and/or front orbacklights to various illumination levels and/or on or off, bringing upa settings or configuration page, or activating various interfaces suchas but not limited to voice authentication, voice card, or touchinterfaces. The button cover may also be used to activate an embeddedfingerprint sensor or other biometric sensors such as but not limited toa voice, facial, iris or heartbeat scanner or reader. In someembodiments, the button icon, logo or other design may be illuminatedusing LEDs or equivalent under a semi-translucent button cover.

This invention describes specific implementations regarding how tophysically add electronics 100 to materials 300 (see FIG. 3) to form asmart wallet, that may also be referred to, but not limited to as, anelectric wallet, an electronic wallet, a digital wallet, intelligentwallet and/or a smart wallet.

In some embodiments, electronics attach directly to wallet material 300,such as but not limited to fabric, nylon or leather. In one embodiment,electronics may be added to a wallet structure using stitches 301 thatextend between and thereby attach one or more materials 300 within thewallet structure to perforations or openings 302 in one or more sides oredges of the electronics 100 (or a substrate carrying the electronics100) to hold the electronics 100 in place within the wallet.

In another embodiment, electronics 100 may be glued to one or morematerials 300, or in between layers of materials 300 within the walletstructure. In another embodiment, electronics may be laminated betweenone or more layers or covers. In some variations of this embodiment, thelaminated structure may then be attached to other materials, such as butnot limited to leather, by various means including further laminating,bonding, gluing and/or stitching. In yet another embodiment, glue 303,such as but not limited to PVC glue, can be applied so that the solvent303 melts the plastic of the outer enclosure of the electronics 100 toform a strong physical bond with the material 300 such that the material300 and outer enclosure of the electronics 100 becomes firmly joined toform a structure 304.

In some embodiments, a combination of these techniques may be applied tostrengthen the bond between electronics 100 and the wallet material 300.COG (chip on glass) and COF (chip on flex) techniques may also beutilized to add electronics to materials as in some non-limitingembodiments. Those versed in the art will recognize that COG entailsadding one or more chips, including but not limited to a microprocessorto the glass of a display. COF on the other hand entails adding one ormore chips including but not limited to a microprocessor to a flexcircuit. Certain techniques may make the wallet thinner, therebyproviding a more portable design.

One versed in the art will recognize that the electronics 100 may alsobe partitioned within the material 300 such that components are notnecessarily collocated such as shown in FIG. 4. For example, anon-limiting technique of partitioning might separate the battery and/orsuper capacitor 119 from other electronics 100 such as but not limitedto the display 108 and its associated electronic components. Likewise, amicrophone 116 could be located separately from a display, separate frombatteries or capacitor 119, or control button(s) 110, or other sensorsand electronics 100 as in some non-limiting embodiments. Theseparticular embodiments illustrate non-limiting techniques to reducethickness within material structures while adding electronicfunctionality to the structure.

For those embodiments that include a display 108, it is recognized thatthe display 108 may comprise a flexible display and all of theelectronics 100 can thus be flexible by fabricating on a flexiblesubstrate such as but not limited to FPC (flexible printed circuitmaterial). As a non-limiting example, a display may include but is notlimited to E-paper.

In some non-limiting embodiments, one or more sensors and/or controlbuttons may control the wallet and/or one or more functions thereof.Such buttons or sensors may be located on top of the display as in somenon-limiting embodiments. However, in other non-limiting embodiments,the buttons or sensors may be outside the display. By placing buttons orsensors outside of the display, the display image may be clearer bydecreasing the amount of interfering material. The wallet may alsobecome thinner.

Some embodiments of the present invention comprise a method wherein nodisplay is needed. Herein, a user may use means including but notlimited to a microphone or a touch sensitive device to direct and/orcontrol (either through sound/voice recognition or touch) a smart walleteither with interface local to the smart wallet, or remote to theexternal smart wallet such as controls on a separate mobile device thatcommunicates with the smart wallet.

Batteries 119 are examples of electronics or electronics components thatcan vary in size and shape. Thus, batteries and/or super capacitors maybe housed within an electronic smart wallet according to a number ofdifferent techniques. One such non-limiting technique introduces theidea of embedding one or more batteries 119 in the “seam” or edge 140 ofthe wallet enclosure as shown in FIG. 5. Under such embodiments, one ormore batteries 119 are embedded within one or more sides of the wallet,with one or more components for inserting and removing the battery, suchas but not limited to a panel 141. In some configurations, the edge maysupport more than one battery 119 with battery holders 142 that cansupport various common battery sizes such as but not limited to AA orAAA batteries. In other embodiments, the area where the battery 119 isinserted may act as a hinge so that layers of the wallet may rotatearound the battery 119. In yet another embodiment, the edge of thewallet may also be used as a light comprising light pipes 143 and/orLEDs 144.

A power supply may consist of one or more batteries 119 and/or supercapacitor (or button batteries) to power the electronics 100 disposedwithin the enclosure 200. Batteries 119 may be rechargeable ornon-rechargeable with removable techniques illustrated in FIG. 6. Inthis embodiment, a mechanical switch or a battery extractor 145 may beused to insert or eject the removable batteries 119.

Different types of brackets may be used for dual purposes of holding thebatteries 119 in place as well as for acting as conductor as shown inFIG. 7. In some embodiments, the batteries 119 may occupy less space bycutting or forming a printed circuit board (PCB) 146 to achieve a lowerprofile. Battery holders 147 and/or one or more brackets 148 may be usedto extend across all or a portion of the radius of the batteries tosandwich the batteries 119 and hold them in place while providingelectrical connectivity to conductive paths on the PCB 146. The batteryholders may comprise one or more “teeth” or depressions 149 to help holdthe batteries 119 in place.

Brackets 148 may comprise two pieces to support multiple batteries 119as shown in FIG. 7, or a single bracket 150 may be used as shown in FIG.8. A single bracket 150 may also have holes 151 and/or indentions 152,as shown in FIG. 9.

In another embodiment, a bracket 153 may simply extend from the PCB 146to engage a battery 119 as shown in FIG. 10. In this embodiment, thebracket 153 may define a dimple or indention 154 to engage the battery119.

In yet another embodiment, a coin battery may be held in place by anenclosure 160, that acts as a carrier for the battery 119, to beinserted and removed as pictured in FIG. 11. A variation of a coin mountutilizes one or more dimples or teeth for contacting the battery 119.

Alternative components and techniques that can be used to powerelectronics within a smart wallet include super capacitors. Supercapacitors or batteries can support energy harvesting techniquesincluding but not limited to piezoelectric devices, solar, thermal,sound, RF and accelerometers.

In one method and system of the present invention the power source orsuper capacitor of the smart wallet may be charged by means of the usingpower from a separate device. In such embodiments, power may be obtainedthrough methods including but not limited to inductive charging and/orsignal harvesting such as but not limited to RF harvesting. As anon-limiting example, a user may charge the batteries or super capacitorof a smart wallet by placing it in the same pocket as a cell phone(inductive). In yet another non-limiting example, a user may charge asmart wallet by placing it, in one pocket and a smart phone in anotherpocket (RF harvesting). Under one embodiment, a smart wallet or acomponent thereof or related thereto may be charged by means of one ormore devices, and then “switch” to charging by means of one or moreother devices. Switching may be activated by non-limiting,efficiency-determining variables including proximity.

In some methods of the present invention, users may interchangeaccessories 400 (see FIG. 12) for use with an electronic apparatus orenclosure 200 by replacing an accessory 400 attached to a mountingdevice heretofore called an “accessory mount” 401 with or without abezel or cover 402 as shown in FIG. 12.

An “accessory mount” 401 is an apparatus that is attached to theenclosure 200 and governs how the accessories 400 are physicallyattached to or interact with electronics 100 within the electronicapparatus or enclosure 200. In one embodiment the accessory mount 401governs the location of a powered card 500 (a transaction card, forexample), one non-limiting example of an accessory, relative to theelectronics 100 or electronic enclosure 200 as shown in FIG. 13. Theupper drawing in FIG. 13 illustrates a powered card 500 while the lowerdrawing in FIG. 13 illustrates the powered card 500 inserted within theelectronic apparatus or enclosure 200.

In such embodiments, emitting devices such as but not limited to one ormore antennas 501, multi-purpose electromagnet antennas 502, coils 503and/or contacts 504 within a powered card 500 (or within anotheraccessory) can be aligned to other antennas 501, coils 502,multi-purpose electromagnet antennas 502 and/or contacts 504 within theelectronic apparatus or enclosure 200 by the mechanical design of theaccessory mount 401. By aligning electronic components such as but notlimited to one or more antennas, multi-purpose electromagnet antennas,coils and/or contacts, inductive, magnetic or RF communications and/orcoupling can be achieved between separate electrical devices (including,but not limited to, the card 500 and the electronic apparatus orenclosure 200) to provide a variety of functions including but notlimited to wake-up, communications and/or power for recharging of one ormore batteries within the card, within the smart wallet, and/or withinanother accessory.

In the embodiments using physical contacts, spring loaded contacts maybe used to provide a better fit of a powered card to an accessory mount,where pressure may be applied by the spring contacts to hold the card inplace. In some non-limiting embodiments the card may be attached to thesmart wallet by magnetic means.

An accessory 400 may consist of one or more materials 300, some of whichcan form pockets 310 or other features such as a cash holder or morepockets 310 as shown in FIG. 14. Under such embodiments, a bezel 402 maycapture one or more materials 300 via a bezel 402 to form an accessory400 that can be attached or removed from an enclosure 200 to form an“accessorized” smart wallet. Those well versed in the art will recognizethat the color, style, size and function of the accessory may be changesto include but not limited to the number of pockets for other cards,cash and information.

The present invention discloses multiple mechanisms for attaching anaccessory mount 401, and thus accessories 400 carried by, secured by orcarried within the accessory mount 401 mated with or without a bezel402, to electronics 100 or its associated enclosure 200 as shown in FIG.15. Techniques to attach accessories to electronics by operation of theaccessory mount 401 include but are not limited to groove, rail-locktechniques, slide-and-lock techniques, and clip techniques.

FIG. 15 illustrates one such technique comprising one or more grooves410 on each side of the accessory mount 401 and one or more slideprotrusions and/or rails (collectively called “protrusions” 421 herein)on each side of the outer enclosure or the wallet. With this technique,an outer enclosure 200 may be slid or inserted onto the accessoriesmount 401 with accessory material 300 attached to the accessory mount401 with our without a bezel 402 to form a smart wallet with optionalaccessories 400 that vary based on the size, style and colors of theattached accessory material 300.

FIG. 16 illustrates a similar technique with one or more different stylegrooves 420 mating with one or more different style protrusions 421 oneither side of the electronics enclosure 200. Those skilled in the artwill recognize that other sizes and shapes of grooves 420 can supportvarious sizes and shapes of protrusions 421 to support various walletaccessory attachment techniques.

It is further recognized that attachments 400 may also be locked or“latched” into place to form a slide-and-lock technique such as thatshown in FIG. 16. These slide-and-lock techniques secure the accessory400 to the electronics 100 or the enclosure 200 such that neither theaccessory 400 nor the electronics 100 or electronics enclosure 200 mayseparate from each other, but can be easily removed by application ofproperly directed forces by the user.

One such embodiment achieves a “rail-like” locking mechanism where oneor more pegs, dimples (collectively called “dimples” 422 herein) on theprotrusion 421 engage one or more cavities within the groove 420 asshown in FIG. 16. According to this embodiment, the one or more dimples422 along the protrusions 423 on the bottom of the electronics enclosure200 may have different shapes such as a point, a peg, or a radius suchas an arc or semi-sphere. As the protrusions 421 pass through thegrooves 420, one or more dimples 422 engage recesses located on theinside flanks of the grooves 420 within the accessories mount 401causing the outer enclosure 200 to lock into place, thereby securing theelectronics 100 and/or electronics enclosure 200 to the accessoriesmount 401.

Another embodiment utilizes a slide-and-lock technique as shown in FIG.17 whereby dimples 423 are not located on the protrusions or rails 421,but rather on some other part of the body of the electronics enclosure200. According to this arrangement, one or more dimples 423 on the rearof the electronics enclosure 200 latches onto one more recesses 424 asshown in FIG. 17 to lock the accessory mount 401 to the electronics 100within the enclosure 200. An accessory 400 can then be removed and/orreplaced by a user simply applying pressure to unsnap the dimple(s) 423from one or more recesses 424. It is recognized by one versed in the artthat other slide-and-lock embodiments may utilize different mechanicalmechanisms to “lock” the accessory in place.

Another embodiment utilizes clasps 430 on the accessory to attach to theelectronics 100 or electronics enclosure 200 using a clip technique asshown in FIG. 18. In this embodiment, clasps 430 apply pressure to theelectronics enclosure 200 as the accessory is “snapped” into place.Combinations of corners and/or sides of the accessory mount “lock” or“snap” to the main electronics 100 or electronic enclosure 200 to securethe accessory in place. These clasps 430 may be located at the cornersand/or ends of the accessory 400, or the sides, or combinations ofcorners and/or sides around the perimeter of the accessory as shown inFIG. 19. This technique may be similar to other accessory attachmenttechniques used with mobile cell phones, but has never been utilizedwith smart wallet or equivalent wearable configurations.

Various techniques may be used to attach material to an accessory.Material may be bonded to the back of an accessory mount by a variety ofmeans including not limited to a bezel technique, hole and latchtechnique, stitching, spherical groove with pin, spherical groovewithout pin, and/or sonic welding technique. In one non-limitingembodiment, material 300 wraps around the rear of an accessory mount 401and is retained in a tight configuration as glue dries by engaging oneor more pegs or teeth 403 along a border of the accessory mount 401 asshown in FIG. 20. Alternatively, a groove may be placed within theaccessory to absorb excess leather in the assembly process and addstrength to the leather. In both embodiments, adhesive 405 is applied tothe unfinished side of the material 300 as it is flattened to theaccessories mount 401. One or more holes 404 in the material 300 latchonto pegs 403 located on the accessory mount 401, keeping the materialtight as material 300 is folded over the back of the accessory mount401. Materials 300 are then smoothed to the accessory mount 401. Variouscolors, materials 300 and styles may be added and thus provide multipleaccessories 400 that can be added to a smart wallet.

An optional bezel 402 may be attached to the accessory mount 401 to trapmaterial 300 between the bezel 402 and the accessory mount 401 to form aseparate accessory module. Under this embodiment, both sides of thematerial 300 as shown in FIG. 20 have holes 404 punched into theleft/right sides for attachment. This “bezel-technique” utilizes holes404, pegs 403, glue 405, and a bezel 402 to attach the flexible material300 to the accessory mount 401 and retain the material 300 in a tight ortaut configuration.

Another technique uses a latching mechanism between two parts to attachmaterial 300 to the accessory mount 401. Material 300, as viewed in FIG.21, contains one or more openings 406 for receiving one or more pegs407, in some embodiments further comprising a hook. According to this“hole and latch” embodiment, material 300 is wrapped around the backsideof the accessory mount 401 where one or more pegs 406 are insertedthrough material 300 and latched into one or more receiving openings 406on the bottom portion of the accessories mount 401, securing the outermaterial 300 in place. Glue 405 may also be applied and dried as thematerial 300 is kept tight.

Other techniques use stitching to bond material 300 to the accessorymount 401 are illustrated in FIG. 22. In one embodiment, material 300 isfolded over the rear of the accessories mount 401 and then over a tab430. Stitching 408 is then threaded through one or more holes 409 in theaccessory mount 401, securing the outer covering material 300 to theelectronic enclosure 200 of the smart wallet. Under another embodiment,multiple holes 441 are contained in one or more tabs 440 that extendfrom the edge of the electronics as shown in FIG. 23. Material 300 isfolded over tabs 440, with stitching 300 then threaded through thematerial 300 and through the holes 441, binding the material 300 to thetabs 440 and thus to electronics. As with other techniques, thesetechniques can be used in conjunction with glue to secure material 300to lamination, covers and/or other materials that support electronics.

In other embodiments material 300 is bound to an accessory, by meansincorporating a groove 451 within an accessories mount 401 as shown FIG.24. In one embodiment the material 300 is folded over one or more tabs450 and slid into the groove 451 of the accessories mount 401. Acylindrical pin 452 is wedged between the fold securing the outercovering to the accessories mount 401.

In another technique illustrated in FIG. 25, material 300 is folded overa tab 460 and rolled into a tubular shape 461. The rolled material 461is then slid into a groove 462 that holds the material 300 in place. Aswith other techniques, these techniques can be used in conjunction withglue 405 to secure material 300 to electronics.

Yet another embodiment utilizes sonic welding to bond a bezel 402 to theaccessory mount 401, trapping material 300 to the accessory mount 401 asillustrated in FIG. 26.

Two techniques are disclosed that pinch material 300. The first usesmultiple grooves 470 and teeth 471 on the top and bottom halves of anaccessory mount to latch onto the material 300 as illustrated in FIG.26. At locations where plastic contacts plastic such as at the teeth andother areas, the plastics may be fused using sonic welding as shown byreference numeral 472.

Another technique uses a single triangular groove 480 and tooth 481 topinch the material 300 as illustrated in FIG. 27. The material 300 isinserted on top of the bottom half of the accessory mount 401. The bezel402 is then placed on top of the material 300. The two halves of theaccessory mount 401 are then bonded using sonic welding with theresulting weld indicated by a reference character 482.

For any technique that involves adhering material 300 to electronics 100and/or the electronics enclosure 200, or adhering bezel(s) 402 toaccessory mount(s) 401, excess glue on glue surfaces 485 can createproblems. This invention addresses this excess glue issue by providingreservoirs 484 for excess glue or adhesives in strategic glue surfacelocations 485 as shown in FIG. 28.

The present invention also incorporates a technique to align externalelectronics such as but not limited to an electronic card 500 (such asthe card 500 of FIG. 29) so that the smart wallet (in one embodimentcomprising the electronics 100 and/or the electronics enclosure 200) toperform various functions including, but not limited to:

-   -   Waking a peripheral device, such as but not limited to an        electronic card 500, from a sleep state via inductive, magnetic,        and/or RF technique(s)    -   Waking a peripheral device, such as but not limited to an        electronic card 500, from a fully off “passive” state via        inductive, magnetic, and/or RF technique(s)    -   Single and/or bi-directional authentication    -   Programming the powered card with information such as but not        limited to:        -   Name        -   Payment account number        -   Encrypted account number        -   One-time-code and/or token that represents an account number        -   One-time-code and/or token that represents an account            number, smart wallet ID and/or personal identity        -   Token        -   Card alias—a name given to the card by the user        -   Payment card type        -   CVC/CVV identifiers (card verification code/card            verification value)        -   Insurance information        -   Medical information        -   Password information        -   Authentication information        -   Identification information        -   Gift Card information        -   Loyalty Card information        -   Identification including but not limited to state, country,            citizenship, employee, voter, etc.        -   Social Security and other identity information    -   Charging of the battery within of a peripheral device, such as        but not limited to a powered card 500, by the electronics 100        (such as included within a smart wallet) via inductive transfer        technique    -   Charging of the battery within a peripheral device, such as but        not limited to the powered card 500, by the electronics 100        (such as included with a smart wallet) via RF power transfer        technique    -   Low power proximity detection and reporting between a powered        card and a smart wallet via inductive, magnetic, RF and/or        combinations of each technique.

As shown in FIG. 29, the unique mechanical configuration of theaccessory and/or accessory mount 401 to the electronics 100 orelectronic enclosure 200 provides alignment between the smart walletelectronics 100 and the powered card 500 such that any single componentor a combination of components to perform the functions listed above maybe achieved between the two devices. These functions may be accomplishedvia a variety of techniques including inductive, magnetic, and RF (RadioFrequency) communications such as but not limited to one or acombination of Bluetooth, BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy), Wi-Fi, and/orRFID. In some embodiments, a coil 503 within a powered card 500 isaligned with a coil 503 inside the electronics 100 of the smart walletor the electronic enclosure 200 to provide the wake-up, communications,and/or other features described herein or known to those skilled in theart. In other embodiments, an antenna 501, such as a chip level or smallantenna, may be strategically placed on the powered card 500 such thatit aligns with the same or similar antenna 501 on the electronics 100within the smart wallet. Likewise, other embodiments may include amultipurpose magnetic/inductive/RF antenna 502 may be included andaligned between the powered card 500 and the electronics 100 to supportone or more multiple functions such as those previously listed hereinall with the same antenna(s).

One versed in the art will readily recognize that many smart wallet(e.g., the electronics and/or the electronic enclosure) accessorymaterials, styles and colors can be integrated with the accessory mountto form an accessorized smart wallet, each with its own various currencyand cardholder pockets. In many embodiments, the present invention alsoentails a style for the currency and cardholder as it is attached to anaccessory. This style entails a primary material and a secondaryflexible material that contains pockets for holding cards and currency.Some embodiments contain holes or openings that latch on to teeth,protrusions, etc. in the accessory.

One example of an accessory is shown in FIG. 30 illustrating a seamlesssingle pocket style comprised in this example of a pocket 310 cut intoan outer material 300 with an optional liner 320 that provides a backingfor the pocket 310 attached via glue, stitching, sonic welding, bonding,a hook and loop fastener, or any combination as non-limiting examples.In this example, the liner 320 is positioned between the material 300and a slight recess 311 along the border of an accessory mount.

Likewise, FIG. 31 describes another single pocket technique thatconsists of a clear window 305, but with outer material 306 stitched tobase material 300 to form a clear pocket to show cards such as anidentity card or a license. In this embodiment, the currency andcardholder as attached to the electronic portion of the smart wallet,entails material 300 which wraps around the accessories mount 401 andattaches using holes in the flexible material 300 and teeth and/orgrooves in the accessories mount 401 that line up with holes in thebezel 402.

FIG. 32 illustrates another currency and card style for attachment withthe accessories mount 401. In this embodiment, material 300 is foldedover the top to achieve a “top fold” style with one or more pockets 310for cash and/or cards. The material 300 wraps around the sides of theaccessory mount 401 and is bonded directly to the accessory and/oraccessory mount 401, or is alternatively attached to a filler material320 via multiple means such as glue, bonding, welding, stitching, orhook-and-loop. One or more pockets 310 are attached to the back dualflap made of flexible material via multiple non-limiting means includingglue or stitching. One of the pockets 310 can also consist of a clearplastic covering 305.

Another currency and cardholder style embodies material 300 that is wideenough to fold over from a side to form a “side-fold” style smart walletaccessory such as in FIG. 33. Outer material 300 wraps around andattaches to an accessory mount 401 via means including, but not limitedto glue, bonding, welding, stitching and/or hook-and-loop. Holes in thematerial 300 may also engage pegs in the accessory mount 401 and also becaptured by a bezel 402, or glued, bonded, welded, stitched and/orattached via hook-and-loop to an optional filler 320. One or morepockets 310 can be added to the top seam, similar to a partial or fullcash pocket or card pockets on the inside or outside of the accessory400.

Yet another embodiment consists of a “back fold” style where material300 with pockets 310 in the seam and/or outer and/or inner sides asshown in FIG. 34. Material 300 wraps around and engages pegs or teeth inthe accessory mount 401, and is bonded via glue, stitching and/orHook-and-loop®. Material may also be captured by an optional bezel 402.Material then folds back to achieve the “back-fold” style of theaccessory 400. Variations in this embodiment include a clip at one endof the outer flap of the material to keep the back material in place asit engages the electronic enclosure 200 and/or electronics 100.

Other accessory styles include but are not limited to variations inmaterials, sizes, attachment techniques, colors, pockets for peripheralitems such as currency, card and ID, ID pockets, buttons, zippers,magnets, hook-and-loop, elastic, and the like. Male and/or femalebuttons, for instance, can be used on the flaps of the material suchthat the flap is held in place when the male half of the button issnapped into the female half of the button. Another non-limiting examplecould use hook-and-loop to secure the smart wallet shut. Anothernon-limiting example could utilize a magnet to hold card and currencyholder closed without interfering with the electronics or magnetics ofthe smart wallet.

Other non-limiting examples include one or more simple clips that holdelectronics 100 into a pocket of a conventional wallet as shown in FIG.19, while other non-limiting examples include conventional accessories,such as a wallet in this example, having one or more pockets forelectronics as shown in FIG. 35.

Accessories may also carry additional electronics to add features to thesmart wallet (e.g., the electronics and/or the electronic enclosure). Insuch embodiments, features such as LTE, 4G, Wi-Fi and/or NFC may beadded to the smart wallet by simply adding electronic features to theaccessory. Connectivity can then be achieved between the accessory andthe smart wallet electronics via electronic connectivity between the twodevices, such as but not limited to a headphone jack, USB or other typeof electronic connector. Likewise, such a connector may be used as adocking technique to connect the smart wallet electronics to aperipheral such as a power supply or computer.

A smart wallet (e.g., the electronics and/or the electronic enclosure)may comprise a material 300 enclosing electronics 100, as in onenon-limiting embodiment of the present invention, attached to a mobiledevice 600, such as that shown in FIG. 35. Other non-limitingembodiments may encompass an accessory that can is removable withanother mobile or wearable device. Such accessories that are removableto external devices are hereafter referred to as a sleeve. In someembodiments, a sleeve 700 may comprise one or more flexible materials300 as illustrated in FIG. 36. However, in other non-limitingembodiments, the sleeve 600 may comprise a more rigid material. In oneembodiment, a sleeve 700 containing some material 300 may extend arounda phone 600 as shown in FIG. 37. The sleeve may contain one or morenon-limiting electronic components as previously referred to herein inFIG. 1. In some embodiments the sleeve may contain one or more screensand/or displays 108. However, in other embodiments the entire sleeve 700may be a screen 108. A non-limiting example may include a sleevecomprising e-paper.

Some embodiments described herein may include several non-limitingmechanical designs of the wallet including a side fold, a top fold,and/or a bottom fold. In other non-limiting embodiments, the sleeve maycontain one or more pockets for holding one or more cards. One or moreof the pockets may contain non-limiting means for charging one or moreof the cards carried with the enclosure, including an inductive coil ormetal contacts as in some embodiments. However, in some embodiments noscreen or display is used and instead a user may be able to control thewallet and the various functions thereof through means of voice andtouch (without a display). As a non-limiting example, a user may be ableto speak into a microphone or touch a capacitive area to control thesmart wallet. In yet another non-limiting embodiment, a user may use theinterface of the phone to control and/or access the wallet and itsvarious functions.

In some embodiments information may be stored in memory device of thesleeve. However, in other non-limiting embodiments, personal informationmay be stored on a mobile device including but not limited to a smartphone or a tablet and communicate with the smart wallet to make paymentsand/or provide access to information, and/or to perform authentication,and/or to encrypt/decrypt.

Using one or more of the communication protocols or methods as referredto herein, a sleeve or various components of the sleeve may communicatewith one or more outside devices including but not limited to apoint-of-sale terminal, a payment network, an acquirer (i.e., a thirdparty who connects a merchant to a payment network), an acquiringprocessor or an issuer, a powered card, or virtually any other device,

As shown in FIG. 38, a sleeve 700 (first accessory 400) integrated withsome electronics 100 may form a pocket whereby a second accessory 800,such as but not limited to one or more cards 500 may be inserted. Inother embodiments such as that illustrated in FIG. 39, a secondaccessory 800, such as but not limited to a wearable, a watch in thisexample, may be charged by the sleeve 700 and/or first accessory 400. Insome embodiments, the electronics for the smart wallet may be integratedinto another accessory of a private device, such as the band of a watch.As previously discussed, the proximity of the first accessory 400 to thesecond accessory 800 enables wake-up, communications, and charging.

In one non-limiting method of the present invention, one or more of thenon-limiting electronic components as previously described herein may becombined with any object made of or containing material. Such objectsmay include but are not limited to wallets, backpacks, clothing,luggage, wrist bands, watches, watch bands, anklets, necklaces, purses,or any other non-limiting object made of or containing material. In somenon-limiting embodiments, such electronics may act as or be used incombination with a locking mechanism. Further, as used herein, the termwallet includes wallets, backpacks, clothing, luggage, wrist bands,watches, watch bands, anklets, necklaces, purses, or any other objectmade of or containing material.

When used herein, accessory as a descriptive term refers to any itemthat may attach to or detach from a main wallet body (also referred toas a wallet) to provide additional look and feel or functionality to thewallet.

1. A device comprising: electronics components; an enclosure forsupporting the electronics components; an accessory mount affixed to theenclosure and defining a gap between a surface of the accessory mountand a surface of the enclosure; and a transaction card disposed withinthe gap for interacting with the electronics components.
 2. The deviceof claim 1 further comprising: the enclosure defining an opening, aninterior-facing surface of the opening bounded by an upstanding walldefining grooves therein; a button disposed in the opening and furthercomprising tabs each for receiving within one of the grooves; and anelectrical switch supported by the enclosure and proximate a rearsurface of the button, wherein application of a force to a front surfaceof the button activates the electrical switch for controlling operationof the electronics components.
 3. The device of claim 2 wherein a frontsurface of the button comprises any one of a finger print reader, asensor, a touch-sensitive controller, a switch, and a control mechanism.4. The device of claim 1 the enclosure for supporting a power source forsupplying power to the electronics components, the power sourcecomprising a battery or a capacitor, the power source captured by aholder disposed within the enclosure and conductively coupled to theelectronics components.
 5. (canceled)
 6. The device of claim 1 theenclosure supporting a power source for supplying power to theelectronics components and supporting a printed circuit board supportinga bracket, the bracket in contact with the power source to retain thepower source in conductive contact with conductors on the printedcircuit board, the electronics components further disposed on theprinted circuit board. .
 7. The device of claim 1 further comprising apower source supplying power to the electronics components and chargedby inductive coupling or radio frequency coupling to a charger supportedby the accessory mount.
 8. (canceled)
 9. The device of claim 1 thetransaction card communicating with the electronics components
 10. Thedevice of claim 1 further comprising a charging device and thetransaction card further comprising a powered transaction card, thecharging device for charging a power source on the powered transactioncard through any one of an antenna, a multipurpose electromagnetantenna, a coil, and physical conductive contacts. 11-13. (canceled) 14.The device of claim 1 the accessory mount further comprising a pocketfor carrying an accessory operative with the electronics components forcharging a power source of the electronics components, for communicatingdata to and from the electronics components and for waking up theelectronics components.
 15. The device of claim 1 the transaction cardfor performing any one of charging a power source of the electronicscomponents, communicating data to and from the electronics components,and waking up the electronics components. 16-17. (canceled)
 18. Thedevice of claim 1 wherein the enclosure further comprises any one of adisplay, a touch screen for controlling the electronics components, anda microphone for receiving voice commands for controlling theelectronics components.
 19. A device comprising: a body comprising afirst surface; and a first substrate for carrying first electronicscomponents, the first substrate supported by the body and attached tothe first surface by any one of sonic bonding, stitching, gluing,laminating, and heat bonding. 20-21. (canceled)
 22. The device of claim19 a material of the first substrate comprising any one of aflexible/bendable material, a flexible display, and a laminatedmaterial.
 23. The device of claim 19 further comprising a secondsubstrate affixed to a second surface of the body and having secondelectronics components mounted thereon and operative with the firstelectronics components.
 24. The device of claim 23 wherein the first andsecond surfaces are joined at a fold joint, the first substratesupported the first surface and the second substrate supported from thesecond surface, the first substrate carrying a power source and thesecond substrate carrying a power source charger, wherein when thedevice is in a folded configuration with the first surface proximate thesecond surface the power source charger charges the power source by anyone of inductive coupling, radio frequency coupling, and conductivecoupling.
 25. (canceled)
 26. The device of claim 24 wherein when thedevice is in a folded configuration with the first surface proximate thesecond surface the first electronics components communicate with thesecond electronics components by physical conductive contact or by radiofrequency energy. 27-29. (canceled)
 30. The device of claim 19 furthercomprising two segments separated by a foldable joint, a power sourcefor the first electronics components disposed in the foldable joint andcomprising one of a battery and a capacitor. 31-33. (canceled)
 34. Thedevice of claim 1 comprising a wallet a backpack, clothing, luggage, awrist band, a watch, a watch band, an anklet, a necklace, a purse, orany object comprising a surface further comprising material.
 35. Thedevice of claim 19 the first substrate attached to the first surface.36. The device of claim 19 wherein the first substrate comprises asleeve at least partially enclosing the body.
 37. The device of claim 19the body comprising a wallet and the first substrate comprising a bandsupported by the wallet.